El Gato27

Wondering what weight range should I expect on a loaded tour bike? Realize everyone is different, so can you tell me what your bike weighs loaded up and what length trip it was intended for? That might give me a general idea what to expect. thanks.

djb

I find that the opinion of "keep your bike weight+load weight to half your body weight" to reflect pretty much what I figured out by trial and error.
Works well for me and having more than about 40lbs on my 30lb bike starts becoming quite a chore for these skinny guy knees.

nun

For me I keep the weight as low as possibly compatible with comfort off the bike. For a recent cross USA trip my gear and bike together weighed 38lbs.

boomhauer

bike weight 30 lbs
gear weight 25 lbs
my weight 155
This is for any length of trip.

djb

I think as a blanket statement , it's fair to say that the lower the better.
You just have to figure out what works for you comfort wise and what you come to appreciate x lower weight for your riding pleasure.

bradtx

I too subscribe to the idea that bike + load = 1/2 my body weight is the maximum and I'm 180 lb.

Bike is 26.5 lb. bare weight
Hydration and Maintenance items ~12.5 lb.
Heaviest load so far was 30 lb.
Total is 69 lb.

While I can fudge a few more lb., I'd rather not.

Brad

djb

Sorry, yes of course, maximum.

But lower is always going to be easier.

bradtx

While I may never fit into the ultra light creed, I pay attention to what they write.

Brad

azza_333

For a 3500km (2200mi) on road summer tour, including water, food, camping gear, bike, tablet, camera, and everything else,
- On my 2015 Kona Sutra 20kg (44lbs)
- On my new CF bike I estimate it would be about 13-14kg (28-30lbs)

staehpj1

Over the years my bike and gear weight has gone down a lot.

I started out with 75 pounds of bike and gear (45 pounds of gear on a 30 pound bike) for a coast to coast camping and cooking trip in 2007.

My most recent coast to coast trip, also camping and cooking, was with 38 pounds of bike and gear (14 pounds of gear on a 24 pound bike). I really didn't want for anything, was plenty comfy, and that was with a few heavier than necessary items. It did require some really serious planning and aggressive cutting back of the packing list.

I can go a little lighter yet since I could take a lighter bike, bought a few lighter items, and decided I could do without a few things that I have carried in the past. I also might go slightly heavier if a particular trip made some extra stuff desirable, but I don't think I will ever go a lot heavier again.

Trevtassie

Depends if I'm carrying the BBQ or not... and how much beer. (I'm not joking) I bought a pressed steel BBQ for $5 in Japan, to cook up all their awesome seafood and corn. Figured it was worth the extra few pounds for some luxury.

Last tour bike and gear was 90lbs give or take a 6 pack. But I ride an old mountain bike that I've kitted for durability rather than lightness, use Marathons that weigh 800g each, carry gear to go on overnight hikes in alpine conditions and have a Taj Mahal sized tent. Makes it slow going up hills and fast going down the other side. With me on board it's close to 300lbs. I also tour more to look at things and enjoy the scenery in the style only a bicycle can give you, up close and personal, but fast enough that you don't have to look at the same thing if you don't want to, unlike walking.

andrewclaus

On my recent trips, my load has been fairly light at around 15 pounds in two rear panniers only. Average load I noticed seemed to be five packs including handle bar bag, sometimes with a pile on the rear rack, probably 40 to 50 pounds. A few heavier loads included trailers in addition to the panniers, I'd guess over 70 pounds for those rigs.

And I did meet one guy, riding across the US with family-driven van support, who didn't have a handlebar bag, lunch, or even a rain jacket.

The thing is, everyone was enjoying his or her trip. Everyone was on a different kind of trip and had packed accordingly. One guy was a photographer and blogger and had a load of computer and camera equipment, for instance.

irwin7638

About 70 lbs for a weekend or week long camping trip.

Marc

arnaguedes

Fully suported tour 2200km europe 36kg total Bike + gear

indyfabz

You also have to factor in potential weather conditions. For example, if you will be riding in areas and at times where cold temps, snow, sleet, etc., are possible, it is likely prudent to pack warm gloves, arm and leg warmers, etc. Not so if you are, say, riding in the mid-Atlantic in July.

Personally, likely weather affects my load more than the length of the trip. In fact, all other things being equal, trip length influences only the amount of fuel, olive oil, coffee, garlic and any other spices I will tote.

djb

indy, absolutely. A warmer sleeping bag usually is heavier (although I realize there are lots of good light ones rated for colder temps), but the heaviest items wont change that much-tent, cooking stuff, a certain amount of spare parts, tools etc (although that can vary hugely from person to person and experience), camp mat, basic clothes.
I figure taking another heavy pair of shoes, or having extra food and water is a big extra in weight, but an extra fleece or certain cold temp clothing will be some heavier but will probably only add in a few pounds, 3,4, 5.
In the end, with colder temperatures you dont have the option, you have to be prepared and just have to accept that you will be adding X pounds more of clothing. Being cold and wet isnt fun so in the end, its really a necessity (and factor in experience, perhaps being older one will want to avoid previous unpleasant experiences of cold/wet whatever).

intransit1217

I did a dummy test this morning. One axiom lasalle pannier 22.5 litres of space will hold 5/5 summer shorts and jerseys and weighs 6 lbs.
And it's packed tight at that point.

I don't think clothes are going to be the problem for me. And based on the bike plus gear at half body weight, I have 105 lbs to play with. But I'll be motelling it on one trip. The next trip will require taking sleeping arrangements.

chasm54

My longest tour so far was eight weeks, 2500 miles. The bike was a heavy expedition tourer weighing in at 36lbs. I started with 40 lbs of gear, but mailed between 5 and 10lbs home after a couple of weeks, when it became clear I had more than I needed. I weigh around 200 lbs (should be lighter) so even at the heaviest my bike plus baggage came in at way less than half my weight.

My view is that the length of trip is almost irrelevant. Once you have enough gear to be self-sufficient for a week, you have enough for three months. However long the trip I couldn't see me loading up with more than 30lbs these days.

mstateglfr 

bike- 29#
gear- about 30#

total weight- about 290#

This is 2 panniers and rear rack with gear mounted atop rack.

What I use for a 3 day trip is probably what id use for a 3 week trip.
Below is general rundown for warm weather. I have no idea what cold weather/extreme rainy riding would be as I haven't done that.

-Couple pairs of riding clothes and off bike clothes.
-towel
-toiletries
-2person Eureka tent
-inflatable sleep pad
-lightweight sleeping bag
-water, food, cooking gear


I need to find a cooking system that is both compact and not bare bones. That wont drop much weight, but itll drop size/volume which will be nice.

El Gato27

i weigh ~175 (down from 205), so rule of thumb max is ~85 pounds. I think I'll aim for less than 50 pounds. I should be able to pack light, have done a 10 day canoe outing in Canada where we had to portage everything, that will teach a person to pack light.

Might have to rethink my bike options, will start on short overnight outings on my mid 80's Nishiki hybrid, but I think it's too heavy for longer tours. If I make it that far. Hopefully.

Thanks all...

mstateglfr 

A guess based on the brand and decade- that bike will be 29# +/- 2 pounds. There are touring bikes that weigh less, but its rare that you see one under 26# and that's typically without a rack. You can get bikes made that weigh less, it costs a lot.
a 30# touring bike really isn't a lot of weight, relatively speaking.

I would think it would be easier to go from 50# of gear to 45# of gear and less expensive, than to drop 5# off a bike since that would probably require a new bike. Of course, if there are any steel components on your Nishiki, you could swap them out for alloy and save weight. Stem, handlebars, or seatpost would be the 3 main possible places for an 80s Nishiki to possibly have steel components.

Doug64

+2

On our present tour we experienced temperatures from wet 46F to sunny 103F. We knew what to expect and packed accordingly. With camping gear I carried 35-40 lbs., not including food and water, on a 28 lbs. bike. My wife carries 30-35 pounds on a 26 lbs. bike. This is for a 2 month tour.

Weather is a big factor. On shorter tours we go lighter because weather forcasts are pretty good for 2-3 weeks out.

David, l believe you are speaking from experience

intransit1217

And this all is including bike tools/tubes, etc? As well as bar farkles and lights?

10 Wheels

10 Nights, 600 + Miles

Bringing some Old Hurricane food to use up

Bike 32 lbs
Gear 56 lbs
Rider 208 lbs

10 Wheels

2 person tent allows you to put all your gear inside.